Parachute release device

ABSTRACT

A parachute release device for use with a kite comprising a block member with means for detachably connecting it to a kite line, said block member having a horizontal slot therein for slidably receiving a flat member to which is attached a parachuter and a parachute with said flat member having an opening therein and a ball member disposed in said opening, said block member having a vertically disposed slot therein with said ball member being disposed therein, a slidable pin member disposed in said block member above said vertically disposed slot and ball, with said pin member having a detent therein to receive said ball member therein, and a release wire member on said pin member adapted to contact a stop member on said kite line to permit said ball to enter said detent to release said flat member from said block member.

United States Patent [72] Inventor James N. Wharton 1124 Carissa Drive, Tallahassee, Fla. 32303 [21] Appl. No. 857,381 [22] Filed Sept. 12, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 12, 1971 [54] PARACHUTE RELEASE DEVICE 6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 244/155 R [51] Int. Cl B64c 31/06 [50] Field oi Search 244/ 1 55, 153, 154

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,443,284 1/1923 Silverthom 244/155 2,598,030 5/1952 Bird 244/155 2,944,775 7/1960 Selleck 244/ 155 3,482,807 12/1969 Morris ABSTRACT: A parachute release device for use with a kite comprising a block member with means for detachably connecting it to a kite line, said block member having a horizontal slot therein for slidably receiving a flat member to which is attached a parachuter and a parachute with said flat member having an opening therein and a ball member disposed in said opening, said block member having a vertically disposed slot therein with said ball member being disposed therein, a slidable pin member disposed in said block member above said vertically disposed slot and ball, with said pin member having a detent therein to receive said ball member therein, and a release wire member on said pin member adapted to contact a stop member on said kite line to permit said ball to enter said detent to release said flat member from said block member.

PARACIIU'IE RELEASE DEVICE The present invention relates to a toy and more particularly to an aerial toy that is used with a kite and is adapted to be detachably connected to the kite line and has a parachute attached thereto for automatically releasing the parachute upon reaching the proximity of the kite.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a toy for use with a flying kite which transports a toy parachute to a.

predetermined height on the kite string and releases the parachute and the figure attached thereto at that point to permit the parachute to float to the ground.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple and rugged aerial toy device that can be quickly attached to the line of a kite and which is raised along the kite string or line by the wind and when a predetermined position on the string or line is reached, the toy device has a parachute that is released automatically.

Various other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing forming a part thereof and in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the aerial toy device embodied in the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the toy device embodied in the present invention,

FIG. 3 is an end view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the aerial toy device embodied in the present invention,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but showing the device after the parachute has been released,

FIG. 7 is a view of a modification of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, shown in section, and

FIG. 8 is an end view of the aerial toy device shown in FIG. 7.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 generally designates the parachute aerial toy device of the present invention, which is illustrated in FIG. 1 as attached to the string or line 12 having a toy kite l4 flown therefrom. The string 12 has a stop 16 thereon, which may be a ring member or the like positioned thereon at a point near the kite 14.

The toy device 10 comprises a substantially vertical block member 18 thereon which is preferably made of aluminum although it may be made of any desired material. The block is provided with upstanding pairs of oppositely disposed L- shaped hooks 20 on the opposite ends thereof for twisting the kite line 12 thereunder to properly secure the block 18 to the kite line.

The lower or bottom portion of the block 18 is provided with a substantially horizontally extending slot 22 therein for receiving a flat member 22 having an aperture or circular opening 24 therein. The flat member 22 is preferably made of plastic material and has a figurine such as a parachuter 26 thereon having a toy parachute 28 clasped to his hands.

The block member 18 is provided with a vertical cylindrical bore 30 drilled therethrough and having its lower end in communication with the slot 22.

The block member is also provided with another drilled bore 32 therein which extends from the front to the rear of the block, as best seen in FIG. 5, and is also of cylindrical configuration, and has a cylindrical pin 34 slidably disposed therein. The cylindrical bore 32 extends in a horizontal direction and extends through the vertical bore 30 as best seen in FIG. 5. The pin 34 has a wire member 36 secured thereto and the wire member is provided with two spaced upper wire legs 38 adapted to straddle the kite string 12, as best seen in FIG. 3. The cylindrical pin 34 has a detent or semicircular recess 40 therein adapted to receive the ball member 42 which is disposed in the lower end of the vertical bore 30. The end of the pin member 34 opposite the wire member36 is provided with a flared out rim 44 adapted to prevent the pin from corn in out of its horizontal bore 32.

hen the ball 42 is disposed in the aperture 24 of the flat member 22 and the pin 34 is in the position shown in FIG. 5, with the detent 40 disposed out of alignment with the vertical bore 30, the flat member 22 and the parachute 28 attached to the flat member 22 cannot be released from the block member 18. When the open parachute 28 is raised by the wind and slides upwardly along the kite string 12, the block member 18 is pulled along the string 12 until the wire legs 38 contact the stop ring 16 that is tied on the kite string 12. When the wire legs 38 contact the ring 16, the stop member causes the cylindrical pin 34 to stop while the parachute and the flat member 22 and the block 18 continue to move upwardly along the string 12. Thereafter the ball member 42, which is disposed in the bottom of the vertical board 30, will move to the right with respect to pin 34, and will then move into the detent or recess 40 and the pull of the parachute 28 will cause the flat member 22 to be pulled to the right, with respect to FIG. 5, so that the ball 42 can be moved out of the aperture 24 and the parachute and the flat member 22 can be released and can float freely to the ground.

Referring to FIG. 6, it will be noted that this view illustrates the flat member 22 being pulled in the direction of the arrow and being detached from the block member I8 with the ball 42 being moved upwardly in the vertical slot 30.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, this is substantially the same as that described in FIGS. 1 through 6 except that the pin member 46 is of rectangular configuration and the bore 48 is enlarged and has a shoulder 50 therein upon which the lip 52 abuts.

From the foregoing description it will also be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, location and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and characteristic of the invention, and it is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited except by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

I. An aerial toy device for travelling along a kite string, comprising a block member with means for attaching it to a kite string to slide upwardly on said string, a horizontal slot in said block member for detachable connection of a parachute thereto, said block member having a vertical bore in communication with said slot, parachute means extending into said slot, a ball disposed in said bore and seated in said slot detachably securing said parachute means to said slot, slidable pin means in said block member will detent means to receive said ball therein for releasing said parachute means when said block member reaches a predetermined position on said kite string.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said parachute means includes a flat member with an aperture therein adapted to be positioned in said slot in alignment with said vertical bore to receive said ball therein.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said block member has a horizontal bore intersecting said vertical bore, and said pin means is an elongated pin slidably disposed in said horizontal bore and said detent means is a recess in the bottom of said pin.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said member.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said pin is rectangular in configuration.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein said pin is provided with a wire member having spaced legs.

pin is a cylindrical 

1. An aerial toy device for travelling along a kite string, comprising a block member with means for attaching it to a kite string to slide upwardly on said string, a horizontal slot in said block member for detachable connection of a parachute thereto, said block member having a vertical bore in communication with said slot, parachute means extending into said slot, a ball disposed in said bore and seated in said slot detachably securing said parachute means to said slot, slidable pin means in said block member will detent means to receive said ball therein for reLeasing said parachute means when said block member reaches a predetermined position on said kite string.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said parachute means includes a flat member with an aperture therein adapted to be positioned in said slot in alignment with said vertical bore to receive said ball therein.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said block member has a horizontal bore intersecting said vertical bore, and said pin means is an elongated pin slidably disposed in said horizontal bore and said detent means is a recess in the bottom of said pin.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein said pin is a cylindrical member.
 5. The device of claim 3 wherein said pin is rectangular in configuration.
 6. The device of claim 3 wherein said pin is provided with a wire member having spaced legs. 